✅ "Altyn" helmet. Review, photos, characteristics.

The time for soldiers to use feathered hats, shakos and caps with visors is long gone. But the various protective helmets that battle armor has transformed into are coming back from the past. Despite the fact that the pedigree of the helmet dates back to ancient times, thanks to developing technologies it has been possible to create a wide variety of new models that can provide the maximum level of protection. One of the most effective means of protection was the Altyn helmet.

Modern

In this article we will look at modern armored helmets
, the history of their creation and the specifics of their use. Despite the fact that armored helmets were used both in the Middle Ages and during the world wars, the history of modern assault armored helmets can be dated back to the second half of the 20th century.

In the mid-70s of the 20th century, the “Tig” PSH-77

. The helmet was produced with an adjustable balaclava and a movable radio headset. Has 2 protection class. Total weight 4 kg, without visor 2.7 kg. Moreover, this armored helmet had 2 visor options: polycarbonate bulletproof and titanium with a wide slot in the middle, closed with polycarbonate. This helmet was widely used in European special forces, in particular it was supplied to the German GSG-9 from 1978 to 1999.

It is also necessary to say that in the second half of the 20th century, only two European companies produced titanium assault armored helmets. In Austria it is Ulbricht, and in Switzerland TIG. An interesting feature of the Austrian helmet Ulbrichts AM95

, is its shape and the presence of special grooves with active headphones.

Altyn was created based on the TIG.

.
The first helmets had a titanium thickness of 4 mm and did not have an aramid liner. In the early nineties, the helmet received an aramid liner, and the thickness of the helmet was reduced to 3 mm. The Altyn helmet was equipped with a radio headset, connected via a connecting cord to a wearable radio station placed either on the unloading vest or on the fighter’s belt. Altyn became the first Soviet helmet to have face protection using a visor made of titanium and bullet-resistant polymer glass. The armored helmet has protection class 2 and protects against bullets with a steel core from PSM 5.45 caliber pistols at speeds up to 335 m/s and from 7.62 caliber TT pistols at speeds up to 445 m/s. The weight of the helmet is from 3 and a half to 4 kg. Externally, the Altyn can be distinguished from the TIG helmet only by a different visor shape and a slightly larger dome with characteristic edges. This helmet was used by special forces for a long time
, as it had good characteristics and high reliability. Used during military conflicts in Afghanistan and Chechnya. Today Altyn is not produced.

In 1981, a special titanium helmet SSSH-81 was developed with the designation “Sphere”

, having a distinctive design. Thus, the dome of the helmet is formed by three separate titanium armor elements 3 mm thick, placed in the pockets of a special cover. The helmet does not have a visor. The helmet protected the head over the entire area, with the exception of the face area, according to the second class of protection, from bullets fired from PM, APS, TT and PSM pistols, as well as from any fragments. Soon the SSH-81 "Sphere" helmet was modernized and the SSSH-94 "SPHERE-S" helmet appeared. The letter “C” in the name meant that the armor elements in the helmet were made not of titanium, but of special armored steel. Externally, the helmets are absolutely indistinguishable. The advantage of steel armor was that it became less brittle than titanium armor elements STS-81, and the toughness of steel was higher than that of titanium. Despite the fact that the helmet is now out of production, it continues to be used in certain special units.

In the second half of the 80s of the 20th century, a new helmet was developed as an alternative replacement for the Sphere helmet, which did not have the ability to install an armored visor. And in 1991, based on the Altyn helmet, the Mask 1

. Unlike its predecessor, the body of Mask 1 is made not of titanium, but of monolithic armor steel. The protection class of the dome is 2, the visor with a polycarbonate insert is 1 protection class. The weight of the dome is 2.6 kg, the visor is 1 kg. The internal equipment of the helmet is designed to absorb the dynamic impact of bullets and shrapnel on the head during shelling. Production of the helmet has now been discontinued.

The armored helmet has modifications: Mask 1Sh – with a special steel slotted visor, which has protection class 2 and Mask 1P, additionally equipped with a radio headset.

In the mid-90s of the 20th century, the K6-3

. In fact, this helmet is a copy of Altyn. It is also made of 3mm thick titanium and has a liner made of aramid fabric. The front part is protected by a visor of class 1 protection made of titanium, which contains an insert made of polycarbonate or quartz glass in several layers. The helmet dome has class 2 armor protection and protects against pistol bullets and 1 gram fragments flying at speeds of up to 750 m/s. The helmet manufacturer, the Steel Research Institute, did not have the right to release Altyn for sale, and therefore its commercial copy, K6-3, was created. In addition, K6-3 differs from Altyn in the absence of a radio headset on the outside of the helmet. The weight of the helmet is from 3 and a half to 4 kg, depending on the configuration. This helmet is still in production today.

Also in the 90s of the last century, the ZSh-1

. Unlike other armored helmets, it is made of aramid fabric and has 1 protection class. The visor on the helmet is made of transparent polycarbonate and is shockproof. The low level of protection of the helmet is offset by its weight, which is only one and a half kilograms, which is two times lighter than a standard armored helmet. This helmet was created primarily for the needs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and internal troops and is produced to this day.

From 2007 to the present day, the second generation of protective helmet, ZSh-1-2,

. This helmet was created to replace Mask-1. Due to the use of new materials, the ZSh-1-2 helmet has a much greater margin of safety. The helmet body is made of armored aluminum with an aramid support of class 2 armor protection and protects against bullets from 7.62 mm caliber TT pistols and 5.45 mm caliber PSM pistols. A bullet-resistant polycarbonate visor protects a person’s face from bullets from a 9 mm PM pistol from a distance of five meters. The helmet weighs 3 and a half kilograms. The weight of the armored helmet is 3.5 kg. It has modifications ZSh-1-2M and ZSh-1-2MR with an external radio headset and a modified visor latch.

Since 1992, the Vityaz-S

. This helmet is one of the most interesting and rare. It has a rather unusual looking visor. Thanks to a multi-layer package made of polycarbonate and armored glass, the helmet's visor, like the dome, is made of armor steel and has class 2 protection. This also affected the total weight of the helmet, which is 4 and a half kilograms. Considering the heavy weight, it is advisable to use this helmet only during assault operations by fighters who are the first to attack. The helmet was produced in two versions: with and without visor. As of today, production of the helmet has been discontinued.

From 2007 to the present day, the Russian Lynx

. It has 2 modifications Lynx-T, the dome of which is made of titanium, and Lynx-A, with a dome made of armored aluminum. The helmet's support is aramid. Lynx-T is intended for assault operations, and Lynx-A for police tasks. In fact, the Lynx helmet was a further development of the Altyn helmet, which is clearly seen from the shape of the helmet, its general characteristics and completeness. This helmet received a standard radio granite, which is one of the requirements for modern special-purpose helmets. The protection class of the dome is 2, the visor is 1. By special order, it is possible to produce a visor with a second protection class. The helmet weighs 2.5 kg without a visor and 3.7 kg with a visor.

Author: VLADIMIR KRASHEVSKY. PHOTO FROM THE AUTHOR’S ARCHIVE PROJECT “ALTYN”

March 31, 2020

Photo: Employees of Group “A” of the Main Directorate of Security of Russia near the White House. October 4, 1993

Books, and today the Internet, are a repository of a huge amount of information. The only question is - how valuable and truthful? There are still heated debates on a number of aspects relating to military equipment, elements of equipment and personal armor protection (PIB).

The veil of secrecy is not always easy to open. In some cases, a deep immersion into the topic is required, sometimes taking a long period of time. Until recently, one of the stumbling blocks was the history of the creation of the domestic armored helmet “Altyn”.

I slowly collected and systematized information on domestic and Western NIB in my free time for the author’s printed publication. At the same time, work was carried out on a number of books on the symbolism of special forces units.

I was prompted to enter the Internet space by creating the KrashTest (Krashevsky test) channel on YouTube by video reviews and articles in books and magazines, where the real history of individual elements of armor protection, such as the Altyn helmet and its later modifications, was presented absolutely untruthfully and incompetently . In many ways, this was due to the banal reluctance of the authors to understand the issue in more detail and qualitatively.

A similar approach is observed today in almost all areas and this is due to the desire of a certain category of citizens to receive immediate benefits in the form of financial or PR bonuses. They are absolutely not concerned about the quality and reliability of the material. And reader (spectator) demand has become much more primitive in recent years, which plays into the hands of liars and fake-throwers.

I did not focus exclusively on reviews and on the same resource I created a platform for communicating with interesting people in the format of interviews, since TV programs are limited in the choice of topics and guests due to the internal policies of the channels. Nowadays, political shows with ignorant loudmouths or entertainment programs are in fashion.

Specialized channels are mostly foreign and, for obvious reasons, are aimed at Western viewers. Those few domestic ones that cover military topics are more “jingoistic” than informative.

I agree that due to the nature of my activity, the contacts I have accumulated and the clearances I have, I have a much better chance of getting to the bottom of the truth, but no one has canceled the basic things. The authors of publications and video reviews did not even try to familiarize themselves with the contents of specialized forums, study the GRAU indices that are in the public domain, study hundreds of videos and photographic facts, make basic thickness measurements and clarify the weight of specific products they have at hand.

Moreover, some clever people persistently convinced the viewer of the non-existence of the GRAU index on the armored helmet of the Research Institute of Steel 6B6-3. They say there is no such index in nature. There is K6-3, where the extreme designation is not the number three, but the letter “Z”, like the capital one from the word “took”. And such nonsense was presented in the context of the fight against illiteracy among those interested in the topic of NIB. As for me, such a position can be safely dubbed the final and irrevocable breaking of the bottom.

A similar situation is observed in book publications. The authors, without hesitation, copy information from the Internet, enlisting reviews from authoritative military officers, academicians and doctors of technical sciences. And the reviewers, in turn, having received a one-time jackpot, do not even get acquainted with the text of this pseudo-literature. And what kind of authors are they if all their “work” is plagiarism of other people’s material and photographs.

Regarding the “Altyn”, almost all sources indicated that the domestic armored helmet was created in the first half of the 1980s, was initially produced without an aramid support, had a titanium thickness of 4 mm, and was combat tested in Afghanistan.

It was also noted that the USSR KGB officers provided the engineers of the Steel Research Institute with all the necessary information about the production of titanium helmets in the Austrian company Ulbrichts, which is essentially utter nonsense.

As a result, we had a completely distorted picture regarding the dates of creation and operation, thickness, modifications of the Altyn and other historical and technical issues and features. The only truth was the information that the prototype of “Altyn” was the Western armored helmet PSH-77 (TIG).

The real history of the Altyn armored helmet is indeed inextricably linked with the West German PSH-77 from TIG and its subsidiary Garant, created in 1976. TIG has specialized in the manufacture of SIBs since the 1950s.

In 1955, Kurt Minder patented an armored apron and an armored mask in Germany. These were the first post-war inventions, which laid the foundation for a whole line of body armor, and later titanium armored helmets.

The head offices of TIG and Garant were located in Switzerland. Such a commercial move was necessary for the Germans to circumvent all kinds of sanctions and enter a more profitable platform in terms of selling their products from a neutral country. Hence the inscriptions often found on tags: “QUALITY CONTROL / TIG BICORD AG / Hunenberg / Switzerland.”

The TIG's calling card was the aforementioned titanium armored helmet PSH-77 (Polizei Schutzhelm-77), developed in the mid-1970s. In form and content, it was reminiscent of motorcycle and impact-resistant police helmets of those years from Romer and Schuberth and did not contain revolutionary technologies, except for a solid titanium body.

The average weight of the armored helmet was 3500 grams with a titanium visor and armored glass, titanium thickness 3 mm. In addition to titanium, secondary protective functions were assigned to a two-layer aramid support, a layer of polyurethane foam and an under-tool device.

Attention should be paid to the strict standards and requirements, including weight, for ballistic helmets in Germany, adopted in 1979. The weight of a size 57 helmet should not exceed 3100 g, as a result of which developers and manufacturers had to resort to a number of tricks to promote their products on the German market.

Early versions of the under-helmet devices of the PSH-77 helmets were of the motorcycle type (foam + damper), which, in combination with a titanium cap, revealed a number of shortcomings.

After the modernization associated with GOST, the final version of the helmet’s under-tissue device appeared, the design of which included a plastic frame from Schuberth (a modified frame of a construction helmet from the same manufacturer), and a petal-type leather support from Bundeswehr army helmets.

This technical move allowed us to solve the problem of ventilation and precise adjustment to the size of the head. The titanium cap was made in one size, and the adjustment of the elements of the subtotal device made it possible to adjust from the first to the third size inclusive.

The disadvantage of this arrangement was the higher fit of the helmet on the head, which reduced the area of protection. This forced the German engineers to experiment with the depth of the cap cut and the angle of the internal frame, although ideally a larger body would have been produced. The speaker had to be moved outside, which reduced the bullet resistance of the cap at its location.

The visors for the PSH-77 were developed for various tasks. They can be divided into titanium and polycarbonate according to the material of manufacture, bulletproof, anti-fragmentation and shockproof according to type. Standard titanium visors were made with characteristic cutouts in the lower part for the butt of the Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine gun. In the upper part, a window was cut out for armored glass, a slot or round holes for a night vision device.

In 1984, a titanium visor with an increased protection area was patented with a cutout in the lower part for the filter-absorbing gas mask box, while there were no side cutouts for the butt. All of the above visors had identical hinge mounts and were interchangeable.

Early armored glass for titanium visors consisted of three loose elements: the top layer was polycarbonate - 1.2 mm, the middle layer was automotive triplex (two 2.5 mm glasses glued together with a millimeter film), the bottom layer was polycarbonate - 12 mm. The entire structure was placed in a metal frame or rubberized body and attached to the visor.

With the transition to wide visors, armored glass was unified. It already consisted of two separate polycarbonate elements 10 mm and 8 mm thick with a layer of sealant.

Later, the production of various types of full-face polycarbonate visors of various thicknesses and configurations was launched.

To meet the needs of the West German anti-terrorism unit GSG 9, whose commander at that time was Ulrich Wegener, TIG-Garant released a visorless version of the helmet. Wegener, by order, abolished the wearing of visors on helmets, because he considered them inconvenient and interfering with the performance of combat missions.

Unlike GSG 9, the SEK state police special forces were not so categorical about the use of additional face protection. This approach was due to constant combat practice in skirmishes with street crime.

The TIG company offered its customers a wide range of products. The helmets were produced in several basic modifications, both conventional and radio-equipped. The latter were divided into types - with and without volume control. The PSH-77 could be equipped with a case in the required color. By the way, GOST had certain requirements for factory-produced covers: non-flammability, noise-absorbing effect, stable impregnation in the color approved by the customer.

TIG-Garant SIBs were equipped with transport bags, trunks, cases and suitcases. Most of them were produced by Cheney (England).

The radio version of the PSH-77 provided for the placement of a speaker, a microphone, a hollow sound guide with a cap or a flexible rod with a microphone at the end, and a head pad with a connector for connecting a radio headset from the West German company Peiker.

A spiral cable with a PTT button and a plug or adapter for various types of radio stations was connected to the block.

The connection of the plug to the block on the helmet was carried out in two sequential movements - entering at an angle and then snapping in a straight line, in order to avoid accidental disconnection.

It should be noted that here and below I provide general information, without diving into the intricacies of the technological process, analysis of the chemical composition of titanium alloys and a detailed study of transitional and experimental samples.

The PSH-77 helmet, popularly known as Tig, has become widespread not only abroad, but also in the Warsaw Pact countries. In the Soviet Union, Tig underwent combat testing exactly forty years ago during Operation Storm-333 in Afghanistan.

Contrary to popular belief, during the storming of the Taj Beg Palace, the soldiers of Group “A” of the KGB of the USSR, who were part of the “Thunder” group, wore ordinary army helmets. There were only a few teags. But these few helmets also showed their best side and played a certain role in the Soviet Union purchasing a large number of TIG-Garant products.

Unlike Western special forces, where titanium visors were not popular, in Group “A” of the KGB of the USSR this attribute was mandatory during training practice and combat work. The exception, for obvious reasons, was the use of Teagues during planned missions to Afghanistan. It was there that handicraft covers appeared on helmets, made by employees from scrap materials: KZS hoods, mask nets, cotton fabrics in “birch” camouflage.

One of the important tasks facing the KGB engineers at that time was the adaptation of the PSH-77 armored helmets to domestic radio communications, and specifically to the radio station of the Angstrem project. The alteration was carried out in Kuchino (city of Zheleznodorozhny), in one of the research institutes of the departmental plant of the KGB of the USSR and concerned not only radio communications, but also the replacement of the under-task device. This project in the Operational and Technical Directorate of the KGB received the code “Altyn”.

At an early stage, KGB specialists in the factory removed a two-layer aramid support, polyurethane foam, and a plastic frame from Schuberth, riveted six technological holes in the place where it was attached to the cap, removed the Peiker speaker and installed a plug at its location.

Inside the helmet were mounted two domestic PDM-1 speakers, a microphone and an under-the-head device developed on the basis of the first Tigov one, which was based on a foam shock absorber insert and a damper with a foam roller in a fabric shell.

In the late 1980s, protective pads for radio headsets made of duralumin similar to Tigov's were developed, manufactured and tested. Unlike the prototype, in addition to the protective pad located in the back of the helmet, there was a side one on the left side, with a push-to-talk button at the bottom.

This decision was made to prevent the radio communication channel from being blocked by pressing the push-to-talk switch when an employee is injured or there is any mechanical impact on it.

In the back of the head there was a 19-pin plug connector, to which there was a cable connecting to the Angstrem SN radio station. A seven-digit number was printed on the inside of the protective casing, the first two digits of which were the year of manufacture, the rest were the factory code.

The flexible sound guide rod has also undergone changes. In the domestic version, its base has become more angular and made of a different material.

There, in Kuchino, armored helmets were painted using Swiss technology in a protective color with a rough texture known as shagreen.

Summing up the interim result, I want to emphasize that at the initial stage the project under the code “Altyn” in fact did not consist in creating a domestic model, but in remaking and Russifying a Western one, since at that time we were not able to quickly master the production of our armored helmet. All parts with foreign markings were removed from the Tigs and replaced with Soviet or anonymous Western ones. The whole process was carried out at the research institute of the KGB departmental plant.

As for the domestic helmet, the design documentation of the National Institute of Aviation Technology (NIAT) for press equipment for stamping titanium caps dates back to 1986.

In 1987, NIAT, together with the Research Institute of Steel, developed a technology for assembling an army titanium helmet 6B6, including processing of a seamless titanium base and insertion of a fabric support. Moreover, the design documentation (CD) for this helmet is numbered 03. At the end of the 1980s, the first samples of 6B6 were made, but the helmet went into production a decade later.

But KD number 04, assigned to the main object of our research - the product “Komplekt 6B6S”, dates back to 1991. The set was produced by the Steel Research Institute and included a titanium cap 3 mm thick, an aramid support, and a visor (two options for window sizes).

Assembly, radio installation, installation of the under-body device and painting were carried out by specialists from the KGB Research Institute. Some of the parts and armored glass in the rubberized frame were purchased abroad. Unlike the PSH-77, the visor for the domestic model was not stamped, but bent on rollers, which created certain difficulties in fitting.

We had to first assemble the visor, then try it on the cap so that there were no difficulties when moving it along the helmet, observing all the gaps, and only then mark the holes on the cap for the fittings.

At an early stage, we even had to drill floating holes in the side stops. After adjustment, paired numbers were applied to the visor and cap using impact stamps. The cap was different from Tig's, both in geometry and size - our helmet was larger. But the general concept was undoubtedly Teague's.

This product has been assigned . The helmets were equipped with spare parts and accessories in cardboard boxes (one box for 5 helmets), maintenance (technical description), IE (operating instructions), and Passport.

It follows from this that the approved design and technological documentation of the Steel Research Institute for the manufacture of the product “Set 6B6S” (product 6B6S-01), according to which this set of parts could be produced and delivered to the customer, dates back to 1991, and not to the beginning of the 1980s .

It is clear that initially the design (configuration) of a titanium cap and stamping equipment were developed, the stamping technological process was worked out, the technology for manufacturing fabric supports was developed, prototypes were produced, but the helmet went into production only in 1991, and then in the form of a set of parts with subsequent assembly, which took a certain period of time.

The process of manufacturing parts for the “6B6S Set” product was as follows: the Steel Research Institute purchased titanium sheets and chopped them into blanks, from which caps were stamped in several passes at the Dubna Machine-Building Plant using the method of deep drawing-stamping with a plastic punch, using equipment made in Kharkov. This stamping technique allowed for a more uniform thickness when the cap was drawn. There were no losses due to scale, as with hot stamping, and it was possible to stamp sheets of different thicknesses in one tool.

Then, at the Steel Research Institute, the caps were marked according to the template, milled along the contour, and the holes approved in the drawings were drilled.

Also, shields (visors) were made from titanium sheets at the Steel Research Institute and holes were drilled into them for springs and hinges. At the same time, fabric-polymer bags were assembled, from which aramid supports were stamped using the equipment of the Balashikha Foundry and Mechanical Plant.

The assembly of bags for stamping supports was carried out by manually laying TSVM-J fabric and polyethylene film according to the scheme specified in the production process. When heated, the film softened, penetrated into the fabric, and after cooling it hardened again, held the layers together and held its support shape.

The advantage of thermoplastic technology is that the film does not penetrate deeply into the fabric, so the mobility of the threads is better maintained. And this, in turn, increases the armor-protective properties of the fabric compared to aramid structures glued with phenolic resins.

The number of layers of fabric and film in the package varied from 10+/–2 to 20+/–2 depending on the thickness of the titanium cap (3 mm, 3.5 mm, 4 mm).

In the early version, the support was a complex composition consisting of three components, reinforced with two titanium plates 1.2 mm thick in the occipital region, where thinning was formed during the drawing process. The weakest point of the support, and therefore the helmet assembly, was the temporal region - the border where the parts of the support were glued together.

The kit was accepted by the military representative office of the Ministry of Defense, after which acceptance stamps in the form of a diamond with the numbers 1144 were affixed to the titanium.

The helmet was declared in the 2nd class of protection (cap + aramid support), the visor was declared in the 1st class of protection.

Acceptance tests (APT) were carried out in military unit 44239 (in test).

Three products were selected from the batch for testing, and one product was tested (two additional ones were used if the results were negative).

A scoring shot was considered to be a hit 20 mm from the edge and 20 mm between hits (at least).

Five test shots on the helmet (cap) from a TT pistol.

Three scoring shots on the shield from a PM pistol.

Two test shots on armored glass from a PM pistol.

From the archival documents of the Steel Research Institute it follows: according to test results, the domestic armored helmet surpassed the PSH-77 in protective characteristics by 10-15%. But personal experience suggests that test results cannot always be trusted.

As noted above, the weak point of the “Altynov” from the first batch was the temporal region. Accordingly, the helmet did not resist a hit from a TT (7.62 mm pistol cartridge 57-N 134C with a Pst bullet) either 20 mm or 40 mm from the edge.

The TT bullet confidently pierced the three-millimeter bare cap anywhere from a distance of five meters. It is foolish to assume that the parts of the aramid support, connected end-to-end with rubber glue, had armor-protective characteristics capable of holding a steel core.

Based on a study of available supply data, it was found that deliveries of “Komplekt 6B6S” parts, starting in 1991, due to complex financing issues and problems with the acquisition of materials and components, were not carried out as planned, but with delays, postponements, completions and alterations, additional deliveries and under-deliveries. On average, 100-120 sets were produced per year.

In 1996, after production had been completed, new specifications for the “Altyn-R2M protective device” were approved. It used the Japanese r/s “STANDARD” as a radio station.

The main changes in the modernization of the early Altyn helmets concerned the reduction in the size and shape of the duralumin radio pads, the replacement of the 19-pin plug connector with a 7-pin one, the replacement of two domestic speakers with one imported one (two speakers made it difficult to recognize speech commands), and a change in the base of the sound guide. Moreover, both were borrowed from the PSH-77 of early releases.

The modernized sound guide had a base identical in shape to Tigov's, but metal and with an internal thread, which made it possible, in the event of a breakdown, to replace the flexible part of the rod with a cap with a new one from the spare parts kit.

As a result of changing the number of speakers, the hole for mounting the second PDM-1 speaker on the left side was plugged. Actually, the presence of such a plug (rivet) indicates an earlier production of the dome.

One of the innovations was the appearance of domestic armored glass in a rubberized frame under a wide visor, made in the image and likeness of imported ones from the TIG company. Armored glass in blocks was obtained from the Research Institute of Polymers (Dzerzhinsk). From the blocks, in the conditions of the Steel Research Institute, they were milled according to the drawing.

Then the parts were accepted by the quality control department, packaged and sent to the customer. At the same time, imported glass continued to be used both in Tigi and Altyny.

The sub-helmet device received an additional detail - instead of a bracket for a neck strap, a neck support appeared in the back of the helmet.

At the end of the 1990s, after a series of modernizations, the thickness of the cap of the Altyn armored helmet reached 4 mm, and a protrusion appeared in the upper part of the visor, which was popularly called the “hump,” respectively, the helmet - “Humpbacked Altyn.” This technical innovation made it possible to place a spring on the visor, which is responsible for fixing it in a combat position higher than usual, thereby solving the issue of better visibility.

The documentation was created in 1997 (re-coordinated in 2005), with the so-called “oblique shield” (product 6B6S-02), . The aramid support, unlike earlier developments, became one solid piece, consisting of ten layers of TSVM-J fabric. Armored glass in a rubber casing was installed exclusively of domestic production.

The helmet turned out to be of high quality and super durable. And despite the disadvantages in the design of the under-body device in terms of comfort, heat transfer and precise fit, it surpassed Western analogues in bullet resistance, including those from Ulbrichts (Austria), a leader in the production of titanium helmets in the West. Even a bare cap without aramid confidently withstood a hit from a TT pistol from five meters.

The modernization of 1997 affected not only the Altyn armored helmets, but also the PSH-77 (TIG) that continued to operate. At the same time, in Tiga the sound guide rod was moved from the left side to the right, and the technological hole under it was plugged.

It is worth noting that most of the modernized PSH-77s, which were in the same line with the Altyns, were bare metal without aramid support, but for some reason they continued to be equipped with Russian anti-terrorism units until the very end of the “era of titanium”. Many employees even “hunted” for lighter and more convenient Tigs, not realizing that by doing so they risked catching a bullet that would be their last.

Tig, by that time was morally outdated and in terms of armor protection was incomparable with the extreme version of the Altyn. This is evidenced by sad statistics - most of the FSB special forces officers who received fatal head wounds were at that moment in the Russified Tigi.

Various modifications of the Altyn have faithfully served their owners and employees of anti-terrorism units for decades. These helmets saved the lives of many.

“Altyn” became a living legend and took its honorable place in history. Since 2008, the helmet began to be replaced by order by more “progressive”, in someone’s “wise and far-sighted” opinion, samples.

Later, a boom in light military composite helmets made in the UK and the USA began in the units, since the LShZ that replaced the Altyns turned out to be not as comfortable and bullet-resistant as users expected. The last batch of 6B6S-02 in the amount of one hundred pieces was manufactured for Cuban special forces in 2009.

Throughout the production period, the Altyn cap was made in the same standard size, like its Western prototype PSH-77 (TIG). The weight of the product varied from 4 kg to 4.6 kg depending on the year of manufacture and modification.

“Altyn” received a second life in the project of the Research Institute of Steel “Lynx-T” for the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Essentially, this is the same helmet (size I) with minor design differences. In parallel with the “Altyns”, the first standard sizes of helmets 6B6–3 (K6-3) and a whole series of sapper helmets were manufactured using the same equipment.

"Altyns" were written off and ended up in numerous collections around the world. The demand for them is still great today, especially abroad. Some of the helmets remained with the owners, as a memory of bygone times and a symbol of the unbending special forces brotherhood.

A low bow to you, who wore this difficult “symbol” on your heads, protecting our peace. Eternal memory to the guys who did not return.

In conclusion, I want to answer the question of many readers who are perplexed by some praise of the old man “Altyn”, at a time when all progressive humanity performs combat missions in earless, super-light polymer helmets and is not raving about “titanium fever”.

Undoubtedly, to perform purely military tasks, lightweight, comfortable helmets are needed without restrictions on wearing time and with the ability to accommodate additional attachments. But in assault police and counter-terrorism special operations in European countries, the leadership is still with titanium.

Numerous studies have clearly shown that none of the polymer samples can compete in terms of basic armor protection indicators with their counterpart from the titanium + aramid composition.

We can only hope that the heads of law enforcement agencies will understand this issue and believe in the further development of the line of domestic assault armored helmets in Russia. And this is a whole complex of activities for the development and testing of new forms, the production of stamping equipment, a modern approach to the issue of the internal arrangement of a helmet, which requires considerable expenses.

In any case, the safety of the employee should be the main priority, and hence the key to the successful completion of assigned tasks.

The author thanks for the consultations and assistance provided in preparing the material: Andres Rosenthal (Germany), Sergei Chusov, Sergei Medvetsky, Viktor Yankov, Boris Chukhin and Evgeniy Stepanov.

Vladimir Vladimirovich Krashevsky, special forces soldier and military journalist. Long-term special correspondent for the Bratishka magazine. Since 2006 - employee of the International Association of Veterans of Anti-Terror Units "Alpha" (Ukraine). Author of a number of books and photo albums dedicated to the history and everyday life of various special forces of law enforcement agencies. He developed dozens of award badges, cockades and sleeve chevrons for special forces units of the CIS and Europe. Since 2014 - Chairman of the Council of "maroon" berets of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation for the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

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Helmet "Altyn": photos, characteristics

Return of the steel helmet

The First World War was a time when armies faced unprecedented levels of small arms and artillery fire. The rain of steel and lead falling on the positions forced all the warring parties to bury themselves in the ground. But the losses were still too high. The heads of the soldiers suffered especially. After all, the head is what most often sticks out above the shelter. And when a shell explodes over a trench, the fragments flying from top to bottom primarily hit the head.

The French and British were the first to take care of protection. In 1915, the former adopted the Adrian steel helmet, and the latter adopted the Brodie helmet (it is a shrapnel helmet, it is a Model 1 helmet). The French model became so popular that more than a dozen other countries copied it. Including the Russian Empire, where a helmet with a double-headed eagle embossed in metal or applied on it was used.

Hadrian's helmet"

The Germans for a long time refused to admit that their famous Pickelhaube was no good. The German Stahlhelm (steel helmet) was developed only in 1916. However, it immediately became one of the symbols of the German army and even a kind of emblem of militarism.

Steel helmets

Until the twentieth century, steel was used to make helmets. Such means could only provide protection against stones and small fragments flying at low speed. Steel helmets were effective in cases where a striking element weighing no more than one kilogram hit the head. If the speed of the fragment exceeded 650 m/s, it already posed a serious danger to the fighter. According to statistics, during the Great Patriotic War these destructive weapons were the most common.

20th century helmets

The First World War changed everything. Severe trench confrontations and the need to stick your head out and wait out artillery shelling required something more serious on the heads of the soldiers than caps or German leather Pickelhaubes, suitable only for parades.

Soviet and Russian versions of Hadrian's helmet

Armies are beginning to develop steel helmets to protect them from shrapnel, shrapnel, solid ground or rocks flying from explosions. They, of course, did not “hold” the bullet. In the Russian Army, at the suggestion of the military attache in France, Colonel A.A. Ignatiev accepts Adrian's French helmet as equipment. The helmet had a characteristic shape with a scallop and a developed visor and backplate, differing from the French one only in the coat of arms. The burning grenada was replaced with a figurine of a double-headed eagle. However, revolutionary events and the Civil War did not allow the “Adrianka” to take root in our troops.

Helmets SSH-36 on fighters

And the next thing was only a steel helmet (SS) of the 1935 model - the famous “eared” SSh-36 (marked by the year of delivery to the army), which Budyonny himself chopped with a saber during tests, testing for strength. The SSh-36 had elements inherited from previous models (for example, the scallop), but became a symbol of the pre-war Red Army. Its developed ear and neck protection was somewhat reminiscent of the German Stahlhelm of the 16th year. However, the helmet was a bit heavy and floated a lot when riding a horse, motorcycle or car.

Officers in SSh-40 helmets

Therefore, in 1940, it was replaced by a new, very successful one, made from good steel, the SSh-40 - the familiar symbol of our soldiers in the Great Patriotic War. This helmet saved many lives of our soldiers. The helmet went through many tests and existed virtually unchanged in our army until the 2000s. By the way, only slightly modified later versions (for example, SSh-68 and its analogues) were in service not only with the USSR, but also with the Warsaw Pact countries and other countries of the world.

Need for better protection

In the late 50s, due to the intensive development of armaments in armies around the world, the Soviet military leadership was more acutely faced with the need to improve the protection of military personnel and law enforcement officers than ever before. The army and law enforcement agencies were required to be provided with modernized helmets that meet international standards. The Altyn helmet, which began to be developed at the Steel Research Institute in 1980, became such a means of protection. The Swiss Tig, which has been used by anti-terrorism special forces in Europe for two years, was used as the basis for the future helmet.

On December 27, 1979, Tig was tested by Alpha fighters of the USSR KGB in Afghanistan during the storming of Amin's palace. The quality of the Swiss helmet was appreciated by the leadership of the Soviet state security, and limited quantities of Tig were purchased purely for the needs of the KGB. It was on the model of this product that the Altyn helmet was designed.

Decline of defensive weapons in the 18th–19th centuries

As firearms improved and linear tactics developed, European armies abandoned defensive weapons. Metal helmets became an attribute only of the palace honor guard and some heavy cavalry regiments. The infantryman's head was now protected only by a cocked hat, which was then replaced by a shako.

The shako was a good defense in an era when fights with bladed weapons became a rarity on the battlefield. This headdress made of leather and thick felt could save a soldier’s head from a weak blow from a saber. And a blow with a bayonet could be deflected or weakened by durable leather ammunition.

But in the middle of the 19th century, helmets returned to military use. In 1842, a new headdress appeared in the Prussian army - a leather helmet with a pike, called pickelhelm or pickelhaube.

It was invented in the wake of the fascination with medieval romance, fashionable in this era. The result was a kind of fantasy on the theme,” which, however, fit very well into military fashion. In addition, the helmet turned out to be more comfortable and lighter than the shako, but at the same time it had good protective qualities - which is why it gained popularity and was preserved in some European armies (including the Russian) until the First World War.

Start of creating a new helmet

In 1980, the leadership of the special forces of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Union handed over a model of the Tig helmet to the specialists of the Steel Research Institute. The workers were instructed to use this Swiss model to create their own domestic helmet, which in its technical indicators should not be inferior to the foreign model. Additionally, as source material, the KGB officers provided the engineers with all the necessary information on the manufacture of titanium helmets, collected at one time by the Austrian company Ulbrichts.

What was improved by KGB specialists?

The helmet model provided by the designers of the research institute was a dome that had only a titanium shell. There was no aramid support in the design of the product. The titanium shell did not exceed 0.4 cm. State security specialists equipped the helmet with an aramid support and reduced the thickness of the titanium to 0.3 cm.

The domestic protective product, created according to the Swiss model, had a slightly different form, but in terms of quality it turned out to be no less reliable than Tig. The Soviet helmet differed from the foreign model in the type and location of the radio headset. Some Altyn models were never equipped with intercoms.

KGB officers created several versions of the helmet, which differed in the following parameters:

location of protective boxes for buttons;
connectors;
type of undertie;
the size of the armored glass of the visor for the visor.

Soviet specialists also created a version of the helmet with a fabric cover. Compared to the Swiss Tig, the Altyn helmet turned out to be larger.

Military helmets in Germany

When Germany's opponents had been using head protection for over a year, German soldiers continued to make do without it. Only in 1916 did the first German helmets appear, which were quite different from what the representatives of the Entente bloc wore. Most likely, the Germans were simply not satisfied with the design of the French and English helmets because they could not withstand a frontal bullet hit.

In early 1916, Germany developed its own helmet called the M-16 "Stahihelm", which was significantly different from the enemy's protection. Specific “horns” located on the sides made the appearance of the new military helmet easily recognizable. They not only covered the ventilation holes, but also served as an element for fastening the armored shield that covered the frontal part. Such armor made it almost impossible for a helmet to be penetrated by a rifle or machine-gun bullet.

The political situation in Europe in the 30s of the 20th century showed the USSR that soldiers needed a massive metal helmet. This is how the first mass-produced Soviet helmet, SSh-36, came into being. The soldiers in them went through many military conflicts:

Polish campaign; Khalkhin Gol; Finnish War; Spanish Civil War; Battles of Lake Khasan.

This helmet was created on the basis of the German M-16 “Stahihelm” helmet, but was significantly inferior to it in terms of tactical and technical characteristics. The helmet turned out to be too heavy, its weight reached 1.3 kg. At the same time, the thickness of the helmet metal, equal to 1.1 mm, was insufficient to protect against bullets and large fragments. The shape of the helmet, which had a wide brim, interfered with visibility, and the wind could sometimes simply blow such a helmet off a fighter’s head.

It was soon replaced by a new model, which was named SSh-39 (SSh-40 since 1940). This helmet is a real legend, since it was in them that the soldiers of the USSR were able to defeat fascism. The new army helmet had the following advantages:

It was made of alloy armor steel; The thickness of the walls was 1.9 mm; At the same time, the weight was even slightly less than that of the SSh-36 and amounted to 1.25 kg; The helmet could withstand a frontal shot at a distance of 10 meters from a revolver.

Although the SSh-68 does not quite correspond to the level of modern military helmets, the huge number of them in warehouses forces modernization to be made on its basis. This is how the following, more modern models appeared:

SSH-68M; SSH-68N.

These modernizations received reinforcement of the structure from the inside with aramid and modern under-body devices. As a result, the weight of the new upgrades increased to 2 kg, but their strength increased significantly.

Description

Impact-resistant fiberglass and titanium were used to manufacture the protective equipment.

In early models of the helmet, the thickness of the titanium shell was 0.4 cm.
In samples manufactured between 1984 and 1990, the titanium layer was reduced to 0.3 cm, and an aramid support and radio headset were added to the helmet design.
"Altyn" consisted of a solid dome. There were no seams in the design of this product.
The product was equipped with a rubber edging.
The weight of the helmet varied from 3.5 to 4.0 kilograms.
The model was equipped with a special visor made of polycarbonate glass.
A case was provided for some versions.
A unique suspension system was installed on the Altyn helmet, with the help of which it could be easily adjusted to the size of the head.
Some versions were equipped with intercoms.

Alternative helmet model

During the years of the Soviet Union, control over the creation of this helmet was taken over by the KGB. It was the state security officers who carried out the final assembly of the Altyn. After the collapse of the USSR, the situation did not change: the Federal Security Service of Russia took over the baton. The current situation did not entirely suit the engineers of the Steel Research Institute, who sought, as developers, to completely control the assembly of the helmet from start to finish.

It was possible to get rid of FSB control by creating a new model of the Kb-3 armored protective equipment, which completely copied the Altyn helmet. The disadvantages of the new helmet were the lack of a radio headset necessary to maintain communication between soldiers. In addition, the visor stops in the new model were riveted, and not screwed as in Altyny. Nevertheless, Kb-3 became a very high-quality copy of Altyn and was completely assembled from 1990 to 2014 exclusively by employees of the institute. Today, mass production of these models has been discontinued.

The appearance of combat helmets in France

Until the outbreak of the First World War, soldiers of European countries did without protective helmets. The army abandoned armor long ago, so a helmet protecting the head was considered an element of ancient armor that had no place in the modern army. However, the First World War, which was unofficially called the “trench war,” showed that abandoning soldiers’ helmets was a rash decision.

Since it was necessary to stick out of the trenches, the soldiers’ heads were the first to feel how bad they felt without reliable protection. Most soldier deaths occurred from hits to the head. Seeing the monstrous losses of personnel that occur in war every day, the generals of European countries became seriously worried.

The first special-purpose helmets were developed in France. Before their appearance, French soldiers wore cloth caps, which could only protect their heads from bad weather. The first French helmet was called “Adriana” and began to be mass-produced already in 1915. It was not one-piece and consisted of the following parts:

Cap; Comb; Skirt.

Immediately after the appearance of helmets, the losses of the French army decreased significantly. For example, the total number of wounded decreased by 30%, and those killed by 12-13%. It is worth considering the important fact that the French helmet was not intended to protect against bullets. He, of course, could ricochet a bullet that hit him along a lateral trajectory, but he could not withstand a direct hit. But shrapnel and fragments from grenades did not penetrate it.

Seeing the unexpected success in “reanimating” such a seemingly outdated element of protection as a helmet, the allied countries hastened to purchase huge quantities of “Adrian” for their armies. The following countries have purchased such protection:

Russia; Romania; Italy; Portugal; Great Britain.

Unlike the French model, the English helmet was one-piece and had wide edges along the entire perimeter. It was perfect for protection in a trench, as the wide fields protected against shrapnel and shrapnel from above. But every attack in it was very risky, because the helmet did not protect the back of the head, temples and ears at all. Since the British troops did not go on the attack too often, this helmet was not only liked by the British military, but was also adopted by several countries very friendly to Great Britain. These were:

United States of America; Canada; Australia.

It is clear that these 3 countries, due to the fact that they practically did not participate in hostilities, had helmets only for “order.”

How to make a helmet at home?

For those who like to craft, making an “Altyn” helmet with your own hands will not be difficult if you carry out the work in stages:

First you need to select a helmet that could become the basis for “Altyn”. To do this, you can use the old Soviet open model. According to reviews, “Salyut” is ideal.
Remove all contents from the purchased helmet. Only the outer shell needs to be left. You can also leave a foam balaclava.
Using fine-grained sandpaper, remove the varnish coating from the surface of the helmet. It is advisable not to touch the factory paint, since it is applied to an already primed plastic surface. In the future, the new paint will apply more smoothly to it, and the painter will not have to additionally purchase various plasticizers to improve adhesion. When removing varnish, it is better to use automotive sandpaper No. 400. It is not advisable to use coarse sandpaper, as it can scratch the plastic.
Sand the surface. There should be no scratches left on the helmet before painting. If they do exist, then it is advisable to sand them thoroughly. The paint will adhere well and last a long time if the surface has no flaws.
For painting, you can use acrylic, model or enamel paint. Before applying it, the surface should be degreased. The product must be painted in several layers. Before applying each new layer, the previous one must dry well and not stick to your fingers. You can speed up the drying process by using a hair dryer. During operation, it is necessary to ensure that no smudges form on the helmet.
Cover the helmet with acrylic varnish. It is possible that after drying the surface will become very shiny. This can be corrected with a small piece of sandpaper. As a result, the future helmet will receive a discreet matte shade. The varnishing procedure can be omitted if the future helmet is planned to be equipped with a cover.

The final stage consists of gluing the edging and suspension system. It can be strap or leather. Images of the Altyn helmet can be found on the Internet. It depends on the master which version he wants to create.

“The attitude was dismissive”

Many soldiers did not wear helmets on principle. WWII veteran Alexander Shumilin writes in his book of memoirs “Vanka-Company” that during the war he went without a helmet and never regretted it, even when he was under fire. His political instructor said about this: “The law is not written for fools, let them expose their heads to bullets.”

There were even parts where wearing helmets was considered “cowardice.” The high command knew about this and did not hide their displeasure.

“The entire Soviet army had a disdainful attitude towards helmets. And our eighth division was no exception. Going around and bypassing units, including at the front line, I did not meet a single person who wore a helmet,” wrote General Pyotr Grigorenko, who fought on the 4th Ukrainian Front.

Criticizing such “laxness,” the military leader refers to military doctors, according to whom 80% of those killed and died from wounds in the war were hit in the head. If they had worn a helmet, it might have saved their lives.

However, soldiers had reasons to dislike helmets. In the field they caused a lot of inconvenience. It was especially difficult for the scouts.

“The helmet rang on my head, clung to twigs, and prevented me from thinking and concentrating,” Shumilin claimed.

The Soviet helmet was heavy - it weighed 0.8 kg, and with constant wearing, the neck began to hurt. Another inconvenience was probably that the SSh-40 required a lot of time to take off and put on. The undertube of three petals had as many as 6 rivets (which is why it was nicknamed the “six-rivet”, while the 1939 model was called the “three-rivet”). In addition, despite the improvements, the design of the balaclava left much to be desired, especially in the cold season. As the writer Vasil Bykov recalled, he once tried to put a helmet on a hat, but was unable to fit it.

“She’s useless! Throw her, the younger one, to hell,” the assistant platoon commander advised Bykov then.

In the summer, when the main hostilities took place, it was too hot in the Soviet helmet. Unlike German helmets, the SSh-40 did not have holes for ventilation. Front-line soldiers recall that many pulled their helmets over the back of their heads or, on the contrary, “up their noses.”

Is this armored helmet used today?

In the 1980s, the effective use of Altyns in many military conflicts allowed him to take the honorable place of the “king of helmets.” This protective agent could often be seen in movies and photographs. The equipment of computer game heroes was created based on this helmet. Employees of departments “A” and “B” of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Union appreciated this titanium armor.

Despite the cessation of mass production of armored helmets of this model, “Altyn” has not lost its relevance. It is still used today by Russian security forces, and former special forces soldiers speak of Altyn as one of the best means of protection.

Modern helmets

However, the old SSh-68 no longer meets the requirements of modern combat. It was replaced in the 80s by new developments by domestic designers.

Helmet STSH-81 “Sphere”

Helmets were divided into purely military ones and those intended for police operations. Both of them followed the path of a sharp increase in protection and the use of first-class modern materials. Among the military ones, we can highlight the titanium helmet STS-81 “Sphere”, which has very good protection. And among police officers in our country, helmets with a visor, considered analogues of the famous TIG, have long occupied a niche in our country - “Altyns”, “Lynxes”, “Masks” and others. Like the ancient helmets of knights, they reliably protect our special forces soldiers even from direct hits from a pistol bullet.

Helmets with visors derived from the Tig Psh-77 helmet

But our army colleagues are now using the best world experience in “helmet construction”. If in the 90s there was some stagnation, now our helmets are in no way inferior, and sometimes even exceed their American counterparts in weight. Jumping ahead to the 2000s, we immediately began producing modern military helmets such as 6B7, 6B27 and the like.

Modern helmets 6b47 "Ratnik"

But they did not stay in the army either. Now our soldiers are receiving 6B47 helmets from the Ratnik equipment. Equipped with mounts for night vision devices, flashlights and other necessary accessories, the helmet is actively used in Syria and has already proven itself to be the best not only in terms of the “price-quality” assessment combination that has become familiar to us, but also in terms of reliability and protective properties. At least the users themselves praise it.

Russian MTR fighters in modern helmets in Syria

But evolution does not stand still, and we are entering the new decade of the 21st century with new helmets. “Earless”, radio-equipped helmets with full integration into equipment are already present in the most elite units both in Russia and abroad. The day is not far when they will be replaced by a new generation of digital helmets. By the way, Russia has every opportunity to produce them now, relying on thousands of years of experience in creating reliable protection for a warrior.

Cover: pinterest.ru

Prospects

Today, rapidly developing technologies make it possible to create new models of armored helmets from lightweight and durable polymers. A striking example of such equipment is the “Kiver”. Compared to Altyn, the new protective equipment provides the fighter with greater freedom of action and reduces fatigue. The Kiver can also be equipped with lighting equipment.

According to military experts, polymer helmets are the future of protective equipment.

Altyn helmet. Review, photos, characteristics.

The history of the creation of the “Altyn” armored helmet (from the Tatar “Altyn” - six, gold) began in 1982-1983, when specialists from the Steel Research Institute came into the hands of the first sample of the Swiss-made “Tig” PSH-77 armored helmet. The order for the development of a new helmet was received by the KGB of the USSR (after 1990, it was used by employees of the FSB of the Russian Federation) and accordingly, it began to be used in the future by fighters of groups “A” and “B”, and “C”. Already in 1984, employees of the Steel Research Institute provided the first samples of a new titanium helmet, and also prepared technical documentation for its creation. Since titanium is not suitable for forging, blanks for the helmet were made using the drawing method. The first "Altyni" had a titanium thickness of 4 mm and did not have a liner made of an aramid base. The Steel Research Institute only made the visor and dome, and the KGB officers themselves assembled and installed the headset. In the early 1990s, the helmet received an aramid liner, and the thickness of the helmet was reduced to 3 mm. The Altyn helmet was used by law enforcement agencies for a long time, as it had good characteristics and high reliability. The helmet became the first domestic helmet to have face protection using a visor based on a visor made of titanium and bulletproof glass and provided protection according to the first class of armor protection. polymer glass. In addition to the visor, the domestic helmet now has an intercom headset. Based on the Altyn helmet, the K6-3 (6B6-3) helmet was created. The Altyn passed real combat tests in Afghanistan and Chechnya and still remains in service with the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Helmet protection: 3 mm titanium with aramid liner (the first ones had 4 mm titanium and did not have an aramid liner).

Protection class: visor - 1st protection class, helmet - 2nd protection class.

Operation: 1984 - present Production: discontinued Case: titanium 4 mm, later models - titanium 3 mm with aramid support Construction: one-piece dome, without seams, radio headset Weight: 3.5 - 4 kg Protection class: dome - 2nd visor - 1st Use: FSB, formerly KGB of the USSR Note: “Altyn” is a legendary Russian (Soviet) helmet. Its canopy and visor were manufactured at the Steel Research Institute; assembly was carried out only by specialists from the KGB of the USSR. “Altyn” was part of the equipment of groups “A”, “B” and “C”. Used during special operations in Afghanistan and Chechnya.

An almost exact copy of the Altyn is the K6-3 protective helmet, which the Steel Research Institute produced from the early 1990s until 2014. By changing the name of the helmet, the manufacturer got rid of the control of the KGB (FSB) and thereby gained the opportunity to carry out the final assembly of helmets, and then sell them to other law enforcement agencies and security organizations. The differences between the K6-3 and the Altyn are very small: - the absence of a radio headset - the visor mount is reinforced and made in the form of a titanium casing (like the Lynx) - the visor stops are riveted and not secured with screws.

P-K ZShS "Altyn" / Altyn

And finally, the P-K ZShS “Altyn”

Outwardly, it is similar to the legendary “Altyn” armored helmet , which was widely used by the special forces of the KGB of the USSR, and later by the FSB of the Russian Federation.

The replica is not the most accurate, but relative to other airsoft replicas of “Altynov” it is probably the most budget-friendly . If you are interested, then one of the obvious differences from the original catches your eye:

Absence of a microphone boom on the right side along with mounts for it

Different shape of boxes for PTT connector and button

Another form of visor
Different visor design
Another form of visor stoppers

The other one is suspended, Altyn still has his own, but here it is from ZSh-1/ZSh-VV.

Like other models, this helmet is made of fiberglass with a helmet bell thickness of about 3 mm and a rubber edging along the lower edge.

On the inside of the bell there is an insert made of 3 mm isolon.

The suspension system , as we have already said, is similar to the P-K ZShS, but without a removable aventail.

There are fastenings on the sides for a removable visor.

The visor is made not of steel, but of ABS plastic with a transparent visor made of 3 mm polycarbonate. Can be fixed in lowered or raised position.

It is guaranteed to withstand hits from airsoft balls, but, as we said earlier, you should not take off your glasses. A stray ball can easily end up under your visor.

On the back of the helmet there is a box for the radio headset connector. On the left side there is a box for the PTT button . The helmet itself is NOT equipped with a radio headset.

The helmet does not have any mounts for NVGs, headphones, light markers and other accessories.